Sunday, September 30, 2012

If you go to the average jewelry store and look in the cases, you will see many sorts of gems. Sapphires, diamonds, rubies and emeralds are among the many you will find.
However, there is one gem that you won't see very often in jewelry stores. The opal is the birthstone of October, but it is hard to find it in stores. Some jewelers will even substitute pink tourmaline as the October birthstone. Why is the opal not a popular choice?
Actually, the opal is one of the more interesting stones because of all the stigmas attached to it. The reason the opal is the birthstone of October is that legend says that if one wears an opal and is not born in October, the wearer will be cursed. Jewelers are surprisingly superstitious, and many won't touch opals because of the supposed 'curse' . They will swear it's true because it has happened to someone they know.
Sometimes, I feel that Asperger's is a label almost like that of the opal. That we are almost 'cursed' to lead a lonely, friendless life. However, this isn't true, not in the least. Aspies are not cursed, and we can have friends, we just need people who are willing to work with us, and we bloom under care. So Aspies, don't worry if someone shies away because of the stigmas of who we are. They don't deserve your opal-esque brilliance.

Monday, September 3, 2012

So I was checking on my page view numbers (couldn't resist) and I saw that this blog is being read all over the world and I have reached over 1,000 page views. I am so flattered and honored that you guys keep reading my blog. You are the best!
But while I was doing a happy dance for my blog, I realized exactly what this means. People all over the world are uniting and reading my blog because of one thing: we all have Asperger's Syndrome. I remember when I was first told about my Asperger's at the age of thirteen. I was terrified and there seemed to be nobody to turn to, since Asperger's had only become an "official" diagnosis in 1994. Suffice it to say, nobody really knew about Asperger's and it was lumped together with other syndromes.
It was never easy. In fact, there were times I seriously considered giving up. I would be sick of people not understanding and others who turned their noses up at me. But through it all, I decided to stay strong, like you should, and make the best of my situation.
Looking at my page views today, I realized I wasn't and never have been alone. There are people out there just like me. We all have simliar stories because they have lived through the exact same situations that I have.
Aspies: you are not alone. I know it may be hard now, but believe in yourself. There will come a day when all is put right. In the meantime, remember that you are not alone. We are all here to support you and we feel what you feel. We will always have each other's back, no matter what.